Biocide Compositions (III)

ABSTRACT

Described are agrochemical compositions, comprising (a) amides based on ketocarboxylic acids, and (b) biocides. The compositions are clear and exhibit an improved stability even if stored at temperatures between 5° and 40° C. over a long period of time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the area of agrochemicals and refers to biocide compositions comprising certain amides and their use as solvents or dispersants for biocides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Biocides, and in particular pesticides such as fungicides, insecticides and herbicides, are important auxiliary agents for agriculture in order to protect and to increase crops. Depending on the various and often very specific needs a magnitude of actives exist which show very different chemical structures and behaviours. Nevertheless, it is well known from the state of the art that it remains difficult to prepare aqueous solutions of these actives which are exhibiting a satisfying stability, especially if stored at very low or elevated temperatures over a longer period. As a matter of fact, the solutions show a strong tendency to either separate or to form crystals, which makes it necessary to re-disperse the actives in the compositions prior to every application in order to obtain a homogenous product. Due to the fact that in spray equipments, which are customarily used for the application of aqueous formulations of plant treatment agents, several filters and nozzles are present, an additional problem appears which is related to the blocking of these filters and nozzles as a result of crystallizing active compound during the application of aqueous spray liquors based on solid active compounds.

European patent application EP 0453899 B1 (Bayer) discloses the use of dimethylamides derived from saturated C₆-C₂₀ fatty acids as crystallisation inhibitors for azol derivatives which can be applied as fungicides. Unfortunately, the dimethylamides suggested in the patent are useful for a limited number of actives. Even in case of azols and azol derivatives the ability to inhibit unwanted crystallisation is limited to ambient temperatures, while the products are close to being useless in case the solutions have to be used at temperatures of about 5 to 10° C.

The problem underlying the present invention has been to identify suitable new solvents for developing new biocide compositions allowing preparing products with equal or higher contents of actives than obtainable in the market. The new solvents need to be safe and environmental friendly and should allow obtaining concentrated biocide compositions (on average more than 25% active matter) regardless of the chemical structure of the biocide, In particular, the compositions should exhibit improved solubilisation power, storage stability and reduced tendency to form crystals for a wide range of biocides within a temperature range between 5 and 40° C. Finally, another object of the invention has been to design emulsifiable concentrates formulations with specific co-solvents and emulsifier system providing superior emulsion stability, in particular with respect to opacity and layering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to biocide compositions, comprising

(a) amides based on ketocarboxylic acids,

(b) biocides, and optionally

(c) oil components or co-solvents and/or

(d) emulsifiers.

Surprisingly it has been observed that amides, preferably dialkylamides and most preferably dimethylamides obtained from ketocarboxylic acids, as for example the dimethylamide of 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid), show an improved solubilising power compared to dimethylamides from fatty acids as known from the state of the art. Applicant has found that the ketocarboxylic acid amides are able to dissolve or disperse a wide range of biocides even under drastic conditions, which means storage times of at least 4 weeks at temperatures between 5 and 40° C. without phase separation or sedimentation. Adding oil components as co-solvents, especially those having an ester structure to the compositions lead to emulsifiable concentrates formulations showing increased emulsion behaviour and stability, in particular with respect to opacity and layering.

Amides of Ketocarboxylic Acids

Amides according to the present invention (component a) can be derived from ketocarboxylic acids. Preferably the amides follow the general formula (I),

R¹CO—NR²R³  (I)

in which R¹CO stands for R⁴(CH₂)_(n)CO(CH₂)_(m), R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R⁴ stands for hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by one or more functional groups, and m and n both represent independently zero or integers of 1 to 10 on condition that (n+m) is different from zero. Examples for functional groups are aryl or furan groups. The invention also covers cyclic amides. The most preferred species exhibiting the best performance in dissolving or dispersing a wide number of different biocides over a long period and both at low and high temperatures are dialkylamides, in particular dimethylamides or dialkyl(iso)octylamides of 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid) or 2-oxopropanoic acid (pyruvic acid).

Biocides

A biocide in the context of the present invention is a plant protection agent, more particular a chemical substance capable of killing different forms of living organisms used in fields such as medicine, agriculture, forestry, and mosquito control. Also counted under the group of biocides are so-called plant growth regulators. Usually, biocides are divided into two subgroups:

-   -   pesticides, which includes fungicides, herbicides, insecticides,         algicides, moluscicides, miticides and rodenticides, (here, The         Pesticide Handbook, 14th edition, BCPC 2006 is included as a         reference) and     -   antimicrobials, which includes germicides, antibiotics,         antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoals and         antiparasites.

Biocides can also be added to other materials (typically liquids) to protect the material from biological infestation and growth. For example, certain types of quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) can be added to pool water or industrial water systems to act as an algicide, protecting the water from infestation and growth of algae.

Pesticides

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest”. A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread disease or are a nuisance. In the following examples, pesticides suitable for the agrochemical compositions according to the present invention are given:

Fungicides

A fungicide is one of three main methods of pest control—the chemical control of fungi in this case. Fungicides are chemical compounds used to prevent the spread of fungi in gardens and crops. Fungicides are also used to fight fungal infections. Fungicides can either be contact or systemic. A contact fungicide kills fungi when sprayed on its surface. A systemic fungicide has to be absorbed by the fungus before the fungus dies. Examples for suitable fungicides, according to the present invention, encompass the following chemical classes and corresponding examples:

-   -   Aminopyrimidines such as bupirimate,     -   Anilinopyrimidines such as cyprodinil, mepanipyrim,         pyrimethanil,     -   Heteroaromatics such as hymexazol,     -   Heteroaromatic hydrocarbons such as etridiazole,     -   Chlorophenyls/Nitroanilines such as chloroneb, dicloran,         quintozene, tecnazene, tolclofos-methyl,     -   Benzamide fungicides such as zoxamide,     -   Benzenesulfonamides such as flusulfamide,     -   Benzimidazoles such as acibenzolar, benomyl, benzothiazole,         carbendazim, fuberidazole, metrafenone, probenazole,         thiabendazole, triazoxide, and benzimidazole precursor         fungicides,     -   Carbamates such as propamocarb, diethofencarb,     -   Carboxamides such as boscalid, diclocymet, ethaboxam,         flutolanil, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide     -   Chloronitriles such chlorothalonil,     -   Cinnamic acid amides such as dimethomorph, flumorph,     -   Cyanoacetamide oximes such as cymoxanil,     -   Cyclopropancarboxamides such as carpropamid,     -   Dicarboximides such as iprodione, octhilinone, procymidone,         vinclozolin     -   Dimethyldithiocarbamates such ferbam, metam, thiram, ziram,     -   Dinitroanilines such as fluazinam,     -   Dithiocarbamates such as mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram,         nabam, propineb, zineb,     -   Dithiolanes such as isoprothiolane,     -   Glucopyranosyl antibiotics such as streptomycin, validamycin,     -   Guanidines such as dodine, guazatine, iminoctadine,     -   Hexopyranosyl antibiotics such as kasugamycin,     -   Hydroxyanilides such as fenhexamid,     -   Imidazoles such as imazalil, oxpoconazole, pefurazoate,         prochloraz, triflumizole,     -   Imidazolinones such as fenamidone,     -   Inorganics such as Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, copper         naphthenate, copper oleate, copper oxychloride, copper(II)         sulfate, copper sulfate, copper(II) acetate, copper(II)         carbonate, cuprous oxide, sulfur,     -   Isobenzofuranones such as phthalide,     -   Mandelamides such as mandipropamide,     -   Morpholines such as dodemorph, fenpropimorph, tridemorph,         fenpropidin, piperalin, spiroxamine, aldimorph     -   Organotins such as fentin,     -   Oxazolidinones such as oxadixyl,     -   Phenylamides such as benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, furalaxyl,         metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, ofurace,     -   Phenylpyrazoles such as fipronil,     -   Phenylpyrroles such as fludioxonil,     -   Phenylureas such as pencycuron,     -   Phosphonates such fosetyl,     -   Phthalamic acids such as tecloftalam,     -   Phthalimides such as captafol, captan, folpet,     -   Piperazines such as triforine,     -   Propionamides such as fenoxanil,     -   Pyridines such as pyrifenox,     -   Pyrimidines such as fenarimol, nuarimol,     -   Pyrroloquinolinones such as pyroquilon,     -   Qils such as cyazofamid,     -   Quinazolinones such as proquinazid,     -   Quinolines such as quinoxyfen,     -   Quinones such as dithianon,     -   Sulfamides such as tolylfluanid, dichlofluanid,     -   Strobilurines such as azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, famoxadone,         fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, picoxystrobin,         pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin, orysastrobin,     -   Thiocarbamates such as methasulfocarb,     -   Thiophanates such as thiophanate-methyl,     -   Thiophencarboxamides such silthiofam,     -   Triazole fungicides such as azaconazole, bitertanol,         bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole,         epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole,         flutriafol, fluotrimazole, hexaconazole, imibenconazole,         ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole,         propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole,         tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole,         quinconazole     -   Triazolobenzothidazoles such as tricyclazole,     -   Valinamide carbamates such as iprovalicarb, benthiavalicarb     -   Fluopicolide     -   Pentachlorophenol         and their mixtures.

Herbicides

An herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones. Herbicides used to clear waste ground are nonselective and kill all plant material with which they come into contact. Herbicides are widely used in agriculture and in landscape turf management. They are applied in total vegetation control (TVC) programs for maintenance of highways and railroads. Smaller quantities are used in forestry, pasture systems, and management of areas set aside as wildlife habitat. In general, active ingredients representing including various chemical classes and corresponding examples can be used

-   -   Anilides such as propanil     -   Aryloxycarboxylic acids e.g. MCPA-thioethyl     -   Aryloxyphenoxypropionates e.g. clodinafop-propargyl,         cyhalofop-butyl, diclofops, fluazifops, haloxyfops, quizalofops,     -   Chloroacetamides e.g. acetolochlor, alachlor, butachlor,         dimethenamid, metolachlor, propachior     -   Cyclohexanedione oximes e.g. clethodim, sethoxydim, tralkoxydim,     -   Benzamides such as isoxaben     -   Benzimidazoles such as dicamba, ethofumesate     -   Dinitroanilines e.g. trifluralin, pendimethalin,     -   Diphenyl ethers e.g. aclonifen, oxyfluorfen,     -   The glycine derivative glyphosate, a systemic nonselective (it         kills any type of plant) herbicide used in no-till burndown and         for weed control in crops that are genetically modified to         resist its effects,     -   Hydroxybenzonitriles e.g. bromoxynil,     -   Imidazolinones e.g. fenamidone, imazapic, imazamox, imazapic,         imazapyr, imazaquin,     -   Isoxazolidinones e.g. clomazone     -   Paraquat as bypyridylium,     -   Phenyl carbamates e.g. desmedipham, phenmedipham,     -   Phenylpyrazoles e.g. pyraflufen-ethyl     -   Phenylpyrazolines e.g. pinoxaden,     -   Pyridinecarboxylic acids or synthetic auxins e.g. picloram,         clopyralid, and triclopyr,     -   Pyrimidinyloxybenzoics e.g. bispyrtbac-sodium     -   Sulfonyureas e.g. amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron,         bensulfuron-methyl, chlorsulfuron, flazasulfuron, foramsulfuron,         flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron,         sulfosulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysurlfuron-sodium,         triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron,     -   Triazolopyrimidines e.g. penoxsulam, metosulam, florasulam,     -   Triketones e.g. mesotriones, sulcotrione,     -   Ureas e.g. diuron, linuron,     -   Phenoxycarboxylic acids such as 2,4-D, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprops,     -   Triazines such as atrazine, simazine, terbuthylazine,         and their mixtures.

Insecticides

An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. In the following, suitable chemical classes and examples of insecticides are mentioned:

-   -   Abamectin, emamectin,     -   Anthranilic diamides such as rynaxypyr     -   Synthetic auxins Duch as avermectin,     -   Amidines such as amitraz,     -   Anthranilic diamide Duch as rynaxypyr,     -   Carbamates such as aldicarb, carbofuran, carbaryl, methomyl,         2-(1-methylpropyl)phenyl methylcarbamate,     -   Chlorinated insecticides such as, for example, Camphechlor, DDT,         Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-Hexachlorocyclohexane,         Methoxychlor, Pentachlorophenol, TDE, Aldrin, Chlordane,         Chlordecone, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex,     -   Juvenile hormone mimics such as pyriproxyfen,     -   Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid,         thiamethoxam,     -   Organophosphorus compounds such as acephate, azinphos-methyl,         bensulide, chlorethoxyfos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyriphos-methyl,         diazinon, dichlorvos (DDVP), dicrotophos, dimethoate,         disulfoton, dthoprop, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenthion,         fosthiazate, malathion, methamidophos, methidathion,         methyl-parathion, mevinphos, naled, omethoate,         oxydemeton-methyl, parathion, phorate, phosalone, phosmet,         phostebupirim, pirimiphos-methyl, profenofos, terbufos,         tetrachlorvinphos, tribufos, trichlorfon,     -   Oxadiazines such as indoxacarb,     -   Plant toxin derived compounds such as derris (rotenone),         pyrethrum, neem (azadirachtin), nicotine, caffeine,     -   Pheromones such cuellure, methyl eugenol,     -   Pyrethroids such as, for example, allethrin, bifenthrin,         deltamethrin, permethrin, resmethrin, sumithrin, tetramethrin,         tralomethrin, transfluthrin,     -   Selective feeding blockers such as flonicamid, pymetrozine,     -   Spinosyns e.g. spinosad         and their mixtures.

Plant Growth Regulators

Plant hormones (also known as phytohormones) are chemicals that regulate plant growth. Plant hormones are signal molecules produced within the plant, and occur in extremely low concentrations. Hormones regulate cellular processes in targeted cells locally and when moved to other locations, in other locations of the plant. Plants, unlike animals, lack glands that produce and secrete hormones. Plant hormones shape the plant, affecting seed growth, time of flowering, the sex of flowers, senescence of leaves and fruits. They affect which tissues grow upward and which grow downward, leaf formation and stem growth, fruit development and ripening, plant longevity and even plant death. Hormones are vital to plant growth and lacking them, plants would be mostly a mass of undifferentiated cells. In the following, suitable plant growth regulators are mentioned:

-   -   Aviglycine,     -   Cyanamide,     -   Gibberellins such gibberellic acid,     -   Quaternary ammoniums such as chlormequat chloride, mepiquat         chloride,     -   Ethylene generators such ethephone,

Rodenticides

Rodenticides are a category of pest control chemicals intended to kill rodents. Rodents are difficult to kill with poisons because their feeding habits reflect their place as scavengers. They would eat a small bit of something and wait, and if they do not get sick, they would continue eating. An effective rodenticide must be tasteless and odorless in lethal concentrations, and have a delayed effect. In the following, examples for suitable rodenticides are given:

-   -   Anticoagulants are defined as chronic (death occurs after 1-2         weeks post ingestion of the lethal dose, rarely sooner),         single-dose (second generation) or multiple dose (first         generation) cumulative rodenticides. Fatal internal bleeding is         caused by lethal dose of anticoagulants such as brodifacoum,         coumatetralyl or warfarin. These substances in effective doses         are antivitamins K, blocking the enzymes         K₁-2,3-epoxide-reductase (this enzyme is preferentially blocked         by 4-hydroxycoumarin/4-hydroxythiacoumarin derivatives) and         K₁-quinone-reductase (this enzyme is preferentially blocked by         indandione derivatives), depriving the organism of its source of         active vitamin K₁. This leads to a disruption of the vitamin K         cycle, resulting in an inability of production of essential         blood-clotting factors (mainly coagulation factors II         (prothrombin), VII (proconvertin), IX (Christmas factor) and X         (Stuart factor)). In addition to this specific metabolic         disruption, toxic doses of         4-hydroxycoumarin/4-hydroxythiacoumarin and indandione         anticoagulants are causing damage to tiny blood vessels         (capillaries), increasing their permeability, causing diffuse         internal bleedings (haemorrhagias). These effects are gradual;         they develop in the course of days and are not accompanied by         any nociceptive perceptions, such as pain or agony. In the final         phase of intoxication the exhausted rodent collapses in         hypovolemic circulatory shock or severe anemia and dies calmly.         Rodenticidal anticoagulants are either first generation agents         (4-hydroxycoumarin type: warfarin, coumatetralyl; indandione         type: pindone, diphacinone, chlorophacinone), generally         requiring higher concentrations (usually between 0.005 and         0.1%), consecutive intake over days in order to accumulate the         lethal dose, poor active or inactive after single feeding and         less toxic than second generation agents, which are derivatives         of 4-hydroxycoumarin (difenacoum, brodifacoum, bromadiolone and         flocoumafen) or 4-hydroxy-1-benzothiin-2-one         (4-hydroxy-1-thiacoumarin, sometimes incorrectlly referred to as         4-hydroxy-1-thiocoumarin, for reason see heterocyclic         compounds), namely difethialone. Second generation agents are         far more toxic than first generation agents, they are generally         applied in lower concentrations in baits (usually in the order         of 0.001-0.005%), and are lethal after single ingestion of bait         and are effective also against strains of rodents that have         become resistant against first generation anticoagulants; thus         the second generation anticoagulants are sometimes referred to         as “superwarfarins”. Sometimes, anticoagulant rodenticides are         potentiated by an antibiotic, most commonly by sulfaquinoxaline.         The aim of this association (e.g. warfarin         0.05%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02%, or difenacoum         0.005%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02% etc.) is that the         antibiotic/bacteriostatic agent suppresses intestinal/gut         symbiotic microflora that represents a source of vitamin K. Thus         the symbiotic bacteria are killed or their metabolism is         impaired and the production of vitamin K by them is diminuted,         an effect which logically contributes to the action of         anticoagulants. Antibiotic agents other than sulfaquinoxaline         may be used, for example co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, neomycin         or metronidazole. A further synergism used in rodenticidal baits         is that of an association of an anticoagulant with a compound         with vitamin D-activity, i.e. cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol         (see below). A typical formula used is, e.g., warfarin         0.025-0.05%+cholecalciferol 0.01%. In some countries there are         even fixed three-component rodenticides, i.e.         anticoagulant+antibiotic+vitamin D, e.g. difenacoum         0.005%+sulfaquinoxaline 0.02%+cholecalciferol 0.01%.         Associations of a second-generation anticoagulant with an         antibiotic and/or vitamin D are considered to be effective even         against the most resistant strains of rodents, though some         second generation anticoagulants (namely brodifacoum and         difethialone), in bait concentrations of 0.0025-0.005% are so         toxic that no known resistant strain of rodents exists and even         rodents resistant against any other derivatives are reliably         exterminated by application of these most toxic anticoagulants.

Vitamin K₁ has been suggested and successfully used as an antidote for pets or humans, which/who were either accidentally or intentionally (poison assaults on pets, suicidal attempts) exposed to anticoagulant poisons. In addition, since some of these poisons act by inhibiting liver functions and in progressed stages of poisoning, several blood-clotting factors as well as the whole volume of circulating blood lacks, a blood transfusion (optionally with the clotting factors present) can save a person's life who inadvertently takes them, which is an advantage over some older poisons.

-   Metal phosphides have been used as a means of killing rodents and     are considered single-dose fast acting rodenticides (death occurs     commonly within 1-3 days after single bait ingestion). A bait     consisting of food and a phosphide (usually zinc phosphide) is left     where the rodents can eat it. The acid in the digestive system of     the rodent reacts with the phosphide to generate the toxic phosphine     gas. This method of vermin control has possible use in places where     rodents are resistant to some of the anticoagulants, particularly     for control of house and field mice; zinc phosphide baits are also     cheaper than most second-generation anticoagulants, so that     sometimes, in cases of large infestation by rodents, their     population is initially reduced by copious amounts of zinc phosphide     bait applied, and the rest of the population that survived the     initial fast-acting poison is then eradicated by prolonged feeding     on anticoagulant bait. Inversely, the individual rodents that     survived anticoagulant bait poisoning (rest population) can be     eradicated by prebaiting them with nontoxic bait for a week or two     (this is important to overcome bait shyness, and to get rodents used     to feeding in specific areas by offering specific food, especially     when eradicating rats) and subsequently applying poisoned bait of     the same sort as used for pre-baiting until all consumption of the     bait ceases (usually within 2-4 days). These methods of alternating     rodenticides with different modes of action provides a factual or an     almost 100% eradication of the rodent population in the area if the     acceptance/palatability of bait is good (i.e., rodents readily feed     on it). -   Phosphides are rather fast acting rat poisons, resulting in that the     rats are dying usually in open areas instead of the affected     buildings. Typical examples are aluminum phosphide (fumigant only),     calcium phosphide (fumigant only), magnesium phosphide (fumigant     only) and zinc phosphide (in baits). Zinc phosphide is typically     added to rodent baits in amounts of around 0.75-2%. The baits have a     strong, pungent garlic-like odor characteristic for phosphine     liberated by hydrolysis. The odor attracts (or, at least, does not     repulse) rodents, but has a repulsive effect on other mammals;     birds, however (notably wild turkeys), are not sensitive to the     smell and feed on the bait thus becoming collateral damage. -   Hypercalcemia. Calciferols (vitamins D), cholecalciferol (vitamin     D₃) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) are used as rodenticides, which     are toxic to rodents for the same reason that they are beneficial to     mammals: they are affecting calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the     body. Vitamins D are essential in minute quantities (few lUs per     kilogram body weight daily, which is only a fraction of a     milligram), and like most fat soluble vitamins they are toxic in     larger doses as they readily result in the so-called     hypervitaminosis, which is, simply said, poisoning by the vitamin.     If the poisoning is severe enough (that is, if the dose of the     toxicant is high enough), it eventually leads to death. In rodents     consuming the rodenticidal bait it causes hypercalcemia by raising     the calcium level, mainly by increasing calcium absorption from     food, mobilising bone-matrix-fixed calcium into ionised form (mainly     monohydrogencarbonate calcium cation, partially bound to plasma     proteins, [CaHCO₃]⁺), which circulates dissolved in the blood     plasma, and after ingestion of a lethal dose the free calcium levels     are raised sufficiently so that blood vessels, kidneys, the stomach     wall and lungs are mineralised/calcificated (formation of     calcificates, crystals of calcium salts/complexes in the tissues     thus damaging them), leading further to heart problems (myocard is     sensitive to variations of free calcium levels that are affecting     both myocardial contractibility and excitation propagation between     atrias and ventriculas) and bleeding (due to capillary damage) and     possibly kidney failure. It is considered to be single-dose, or     cumulative (depending on concentration used; the common 0.075% bait     concentration is lethal to most rodents after a single intake of     larger portions of the bait), sub-chronic (death occurring usually     within days to one week after ingestion of the bait). Applied     concentrations are 0.075% cholecalciferol and 0.1% ergocalciferol     when used alone. There is an important feature of calciferols     toxicology which is that they are synergistic with anticoagulant     toxicants. This means that mixtures of anticoagulants and     calciferols in the same bait are more toxic than the sum of     toxicities of the anticoagulant and the calciferol in the bait so     that a massive hypercalcemic effect can be achieved by a     substantially lower calciferol content in the bait and vice-versa.     More pronounced anticoagulant/hemorrhagic effects are observed if     calciferol is present. This synergism is mostly used in baits low in     calciferol because effective concentrations of calciferols are more     expensive than effective concentrations of most anticoagulants. The     historically very first application of a calciferol in rodenticidal     bait was, in fact, the Sorex product Sorexa® D (with a different     formula than today's Sorexa® D) back in the early 1970's, containing     warfarin 0.025%+ergocalciferol 0.1%. Today, Sorexa®CD contains a     0.0025% difenacoum+0.075% cholecalciferol combination. Numerous     other brand products containing either calciferols 0.075-0.1% (e.g.     Quintox®, containing 0.075% cholecalciferol) alone, or a combination     of calciferol 0.01-0.075% with an anticoagulant are marketed.

Miticides, Moluscicides and Nematicides

Miticides are pesticides that kill mites. Antibiotic miticides, carbamate miticides, formamidine miticides, mite growth regulators, organochlorine, permethrin and organophosphate miticides all belong to this category. Molluscicides are pesticides used to control mollusks, such as moths, slugs and snails. These substances include metaldehyde, methiocarb and aluminium sulfate. A nematicide is a type of chemical pesticide used to kill parasitic nematodes (a phylum of worm). A nematicide is obtained from a neem tree's seed cake; which is the residue of neem seeds after oil extraction. The neem tree is known by several names in the world but was first cultivated in India since ancient times.

Antimicrobials

In the following examples, antimicrobials suitable for agrochemical compositions according to the present invention are given. Bactericidal disinfectants mostly used are those applying

-   -   active chlorine (i.e., hypochlorites, chloramines,         dichloroisocyanurate and trichloroisocyanurate, wet chlorine,         chlorine dioxide, etc.),     -   active oxygen (peroxides such as peracetic acid, potassium         persulfate, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate and urea         perhydrate),     -   iodine (iodpovidone (povidone-iodine, Betadine), Lugol's         solution, iodine tincture, iodinated nonionic surfactants),     -   concentrated alcohols (mainly ethanol, 1-propanol, called also         n-propanol and 2-propanol, called isopropanol and mixtures         thereof; further, 2-phenoxyethanol and 1- and 2-phenoxypropanols         are used),     -   phenolic substances (such as phenol (also called “carbolic         acid”), cresols (called “Lysole” in combination with liquid         potassium soaps), halogenated (chlorinated, brominated) phenols,         such as hexachlorophene, triclosan, trichlorophenol,         tribromophenol, pentachlorophenol, Dibromol and salts thereof),     -   cationic surfactants such as some quaternary ammonium cations         (such as benzalkonium chloride, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide         or chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, cetylpyridinium         chloride, benzethonium chloride) and others, non-quarternary         compounds such as chlorhexidine, glucoprotamine, octenidine         dihydrochloride, etc.),     -   strong oxidizers such as ozone and permanganate solutions;     -   heavy metals and their salts such as colloidal silver, silver         nitrate, mercury chloride, phenylmercury salts, copper sulfate,         copper oxide-chloride etc. Heavy metals and their salts are the         most toxic and environmentally hazardous bactericides and,         therefore, their use is strongly suppressed or forbidden;         further, also     -   properly concentrated strong acids (phosphoric, nitric,         sulfuric, amidosulfuric, toluenesulfonic acids) and     -   alcalis (sodium, potassium, calcium hydroxides) between pH<1         or >13, particularly below elevated temperatures (above 60° C.)         kill bacteria.

As antiseptics (i.e., germicide agents that can be used on human or animal body, skin, mucoses, wounds and the like), few of the above mentioned disinfectants can be used under proper conditions (mainly concentration, pH, temperature and toxicity toward man/animal). Among them, important are

-   -   Some properly diluted chlorine preparations (e.g. Daquin's         solution, 0.5% sodium or potassium hypochlorite solution,         pH-adjusted to pH 7-8, or 0.5-1% solution of sodium         benzenesulfochloramide (chloramine B)), some     -   iodine preparations such as iodopovidone in various galenics         (ointments, solutions, wound plasters), in the past also Lugol's         solution,     -   peroxides as urea perhydrate solutions and pH-buffered 0.1-0.25%         peracetic acid solutions,     -   alcohols with or without antiseptic additives, used mainly for         skin antisepsis,     -   weak organic acids such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, lactic         acid and salicylic acid     -   some phenolic compounds such as hexachlorophene, triclosan and         Dibromol, and     -   cation-active compounds such as 0.05-0.5% benzalkonium, 0.5-4%         chlorhexidine, 0.1-2% octenidine solutions.

Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria; bacteriostatic antibiotics only slow down their growth or reproduction. Penicillin is a bactericide, as are cephalosporins. Aminoglycosidic antibiotics can act in both a bactericidic manner (by disrupting cell wall precursor leading to lysis) or bacteriostatic manner (by connecting to 30 s ribosomal subunit and reducing translation fidelity leading to inaccurate protein synthesis). Other bactericidal antibiotics according to the present invention include the fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans, vancomycin, monobactams, co-trimoxazole, and metronidazole Preferred actives are those with systemic or partially systemic mode of action such as for example azoxystrobin.

Overall preferred are biocides selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and its salts, glufosinate and its salts.

Oil Components

In a number of cases it is advantageous to add oil components (optional component c) to the biocide compositions in order to support the emulsification power of the products. Suitable products comprise Guerbet alcohols based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of linear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols or esters of branched C₆-C₁₃-carboxylic acids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, such as, for example, myristyl myristate, myristyl palmitate, myristyl stearate, myristyl isostearate, myristyl oleate, myristyl behenate, myristyl erucate, cetyl myristate, cetyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, cetyl isostearate, cetyl oleate, cetyl behenate, cetyl erucate, stearyl myristate, stearyl palmitate, stearyl stearate, stearyl isostearate, stearyl oleate, stearyl behenate, stearyl erucate, isostearyl myristate, isostearyl palmitate, isostearyl stearate, isostearyl isostearate, isostearyl oleate, isostearyl behenate, isostearyl oleate, oleyl myristate, oleyl palmitate, oleyl stearate, oleyl isostearate, oleyl oleate, oleyl behenate, oleyl erucate, behenyl myristate, behenyl palmitate, behenyl stearate, behenyl isostearate, behenyl oleate, behenyl behenate, behenyl erucate, erucyl myristate, erucyl palmitate, erucyl stearate, erucyl isostearate, erucyl oleate, erucyl behenate and erucyl erucate. Also suitable are esters of linear C₆-C₂₂-fatty acids with branched alcohols, in particular 2-ethylhexanol, esters of C₁₈-C₃₈-alkylhydroxy carboxylic acids with linear or branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols, in particular Dioctyl Malate, esters of linear and/or branched fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols (such as, for example, propylene glycol, dimerdiol or trimertriol) and/or Guerbet alcohols, triglycerides based on C₆-C₁₀-fatty acids, liquid mono-/di-/triglyceride mixtures based on C₆-C₁₈-fatty acids, esters of C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohols and/or Guerbet alcohols with aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular benzoic acid, esters of C₂-C₁₂-dicarboxylic acids with linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 22 carbon atoms (Cetiol® B) or polyols having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups, vegetable oils, branched primary alcohols, substituted cyclohexanes, linear and branched C₆-C₂₂-fatty alcohol carbonates, such as, for example, Dicaprylyl Carbonate (Cetiol® CC), Guerbet carbonates, based on fatty alcohols having 6 to 18, preferably 8 to 10, carbon atoms, esters of benzoic acid with linear and/or branched C₆-C₂₂-alcohols (e.g. Cetiol® AB), linear or branched, symmetrical or asymmetrical dialkyl ethers having 6 to 22 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as, for example, dicaprylyl ether (Cetiol® OE), ring-opening products of epoxidized fatty acid esters with polyols, silicone oils (cyclomethicones, silicone methicone grades, etc.), aliphatic or naphthenic hydrocarbons, such as, for example, squalane, squalene or dialkylcyclohexanes, and/or mineral oils. The preferred oil components/co-solvents show an ester structure preferably adipates (Cetiol® B, Agnique DiME 6), methyl esters of vegetable oils (Agnique® ME 18RD-F, Agnique® ME 12C-F), alkyl esters (Agnique® Ae 3-2EH), all products available in the market from Cognis GmbH.

Emulsifiers

In a number of cases it is advantageous to add emulsifiers (optional component d) to the biocide compositions in order to support the stability of the products. A first preferred group of emulsifiers encompasses non-ionic surfactants such as, for example:

-   -   products of the addition of 2 to 30 mol ethylene oxide and/or 0         to 5 mol propylene oxide onto linear C₈₋₂₂ fatty alcohols, onto         C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids and onto alkyl phenols containing 8 to 15         carbon atoms in the alkyl group;     -   C_(12/18) fatty acid monoesters and diesters of addition         products of 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide onto glycerol;     -   glycerol mono- and diesters and sorbitan mono- and diesters of         saturated and unsaturated fatty acids containing 6 to 22 carbon         atoms and ethylene oxide addition products thereof;     -   addition products of 15 to 60 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil         and/or hydrogenated castor oil;     -   polyol esters and, in particular, polyglycerol esters such as,         for example, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, polyglycerol         poly-12-hydroxystearate or polyglycerol dimerate isostearate.         Mixtures of compounds from several of these classes are also         suitable;     -   addition products of 2 to 15 mol ethylene oxide onto castor oil         and/or hydrogenated castor oil;     -   partial esters based on linear, branched, unsaturated or         saturated C_(6/22) fatty acids, ricinoleic acid and         12-hydroxystearic acid and glycerol, polyglycerol,         pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sugar alcohols (for example         sorbitol), alkyl glucosides (for example methyl glucoside, butyl         glucoside, lauryl glucoside) and polyglucosides (for example         cellulose);     -   alkoxylatation products of saccharose esters mono-, di and         trialkyl phosphates and mono-, di- and/or tri-PEG-alkyl         phosphates and salts thereof;     -   wool wax alcohols;     -   polysiloxane/polyalkyl polyether copolymers and corresponding         derivatives;     -   mixed esters of pentaerythritol, fatty acids, citric acid and         fatty alcohol and/or mixed esters of C₆₋₂₂ fatty acids, methyl         glucose and polyols, preferably glycerol or polyglycerol,     -   polyalkylene glycols and     -   glycerol carbonate.

The addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide onto fatty alcohols, fatty acids, alkylphenols, glycerol mono- and diesters and sorbitan mono- and diesters of fatty acids or onto castor oil are known commercially available products. They are homologue mixtures of which the average degree of alkoxylation corresponds to the ratio between the quantities of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and substrate with which the addition reaction is carried out. C_(12/18) fatty acid monoesters and diesters of addition products of ethylene oxide onto glycerol are known as lipid layer enhancers for cosmetic formulations. The preferred emulsifiers are described in more detail as follows:

Partial Glycerides

Typical examples of suitable partial glycerides are hydroxystearic acid monoglyceride, hydroxystearic acid diglyceride, isostearic acid monoglyceride, isostearic acid diglyceride, oleic acid monoglyceride, oleic acid diglyceride, ricinoleic acid monoglyceride, ricinoleic acid diglyceride, linoleic acid monoglyceride, linoleic acid diglyceride, linolenic acid monoglyceride, linolenic acid diglyceride, erucic acid monoglyceride, erucic acid diglyceride, tartaric acid monoglyceride, tartaric acid diglyceride, citric acid monoglyceride, citric acid diglyceride, malic acid monoglyceride, malic acid diglyceride and technical mixtures thereof which may still contain small quantities of triglyceride from the production process. Addition products of 1 to 30, and preferably 5 to 10, mol ethylene oxide onto the partial glycerides mentioned are also suitable.

Sorbitan Esters

Suitable sorbitan esters are sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan sesquiisostearate, sorbitan diisostearate, sorbitan triisostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan monoerucate, sorbitan sesquierucate, sorbitan dierucate, sorbitan trierucate, sorbitan monoricinoleate, sorbitan sesquiricinoleate, sorbitan diricinoleate, sorbitan triricinoleate, sorbitan monohydroxystearate, sorbitan sesquihydroxystearate, sorbitan dihydroxystearate, sorbitan trihydroxystearate, sorbitan monotartrate, sorbitan sesquitartrate, sorbitan ditartrate, sorbitan tritartrate, sorbitan monocitrate, sorbitan sesquicitrate, sorbitan dicitrate, sorbitan tricitrate, sorbitan monomaleate, sorbitan sesquimaleate, sorbitan dimaleate, sorbitan trimaleate and technical mixtures thereof. Addition products of 1 to 30, and preferably 5 to 10, mol ethylene oxide onto the sorbitan esters mentioned are also suitable.

Polyglycerol Esters

Typical examples of suitable polyglycerol esters are Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate (Dehymuls® PGPH), Polyglycerin-3-Diisostearate (Lameform® TGI), Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate (Isolan® GI 34), Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate (Isolan® PDI), Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate (Tego Care® 450), Polyglyceryl-3 Beeswax (Cera Bellina®), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate (Polyglycerol Caprate T2010/90), Polyglyceryl-3 Cetyl Ether (Chimexane® NL), Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate (Cremophor® GS 32) and Polyglyceryl Polyricinoleate (Admul® WOL 1403), Polyglyceryl Dimerate Isostearate and mixtures thereof. Examples of other suitable polyolesters are the mono-, di- and triesters of trimethylol propane or pentaerythritol with lauric acid, cocofatty acid, tallow fatty acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, behenic acid and the like, optionally reacted with 1 to 30 mol ethylene oxide.

Alk(en)yl oligoglycosides

The alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycosides representing also preferred emulsifiers may be derived from aldoses or ketoses containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. Accordingly, the preferred alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides are alkyl or alkenyl oligoglucosides. These materials are also known generically as “alkyl polyglycosides” (APG). The alk(en)yl oligoglycosides according to the invention correspond to formula (II):

R⁵O[G]_(p)  (II)

wherein R⁵ is an alkyl or alkenyl radical having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit having 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is a number from 1 to 10. The index p in general formula (II) indicates the degree of oligomerisation (DP degree), i.e. the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and is a number of 1 to 10. Whereas p in a given compound must always be an integer and, above all, may assume a value of 1 to 6, the value p for a certain alkyl oligoglycoside is an analytically determined calculated quantity which is mostly a broken number. Alk(en)yl oligoglycosides having an average degree of oligomerisation p of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. Alk(en)yl oligoglycosides having a degree of oligomerisation below 1.7 and, more particularly, between 1.2 and 1.4 are preferred from the applicational point of view. The alkyl or alkenyl radical R⁵ may be derived from primary alcohols containing 4 to 22 and preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms. Typical examples are butanol, caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol, undecyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and technical mixtures thereof such as are formed, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen's oxo synthesis. Alkyl oligoglucosides based on hydrogenated C₈-C₁₆ coconut oil alcohol having a DP of 1 to 3 are preferred. Also suitable are alkoxylation products of alkyl oligoglucosides, for example adducts of 1 to 10 moles ethylene oxide and/or 1 to 5 moles propylene oxide to C₈-C₁₀ or C₁₂-C₁₈ alkyl oligoglucoside having a DP between 1.2 and 1.4.

Miscellaneous Emulsifiers

Typical anionic emulsifiers are aliphatic C₁₂₋₂₂ fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid or behenic acid, for example, and C₁₂₋₂₂ dicarboxylic acids such as azelaic acid or sebacic acid, for example. Other suitable emulsifiers are zwitterionic surfactants. Zwitterionic surfactants are surface-active compounds which contain at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one carboxylate and one sulfonate group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium glycinates, for example cocoacylaminopropyl dimethyl ammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethyl imidazolines containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group and cocoacylaminoethyl hydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. The fatty acid amide derivative known under the CTFA name of Cocamidopropyl Betaine is particularly preferred. Ampholytic surfactants are also suitable emulsifiers. Ampholytic surfactants are surface-active compounds which, in addition to a C_(8/18) alkyl or acyl group, contain at least one free amino group and at least one —COOH— or —SO₃H— group in the molecule and which are capable of forming inner salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkyl glycines, N-alkyl propionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropyl glycines, N-alkyl taurines, N-alkyl sarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acids containing around 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethyl aminopropionate and C_(12/18) acyl sarcosine.

Biocide Compositions

Depending on the nature of the biocide the products may show the following compositions:

-   (a) about 0.1% b.w. to about 99% b.w., preferably about 15% b.w. to     about 70% b.w., and most preferably about 20% b.w. to about 45%     b.w., amides derived from keto-carboxylic acids, -   (b) about 1% b.w. to about 99.1% b.w., preferably about 5% b.w. to     about 75% b.w., and most preferably about 15% b.w. to about 40%     b.w., biocides, -   (c) 0 to about 50, preferably about 5 to about 30 and more     preferably about 10 to about 25% b.w. oil components/co-solvents and -   (d) 0% b.w. to about 15% b.w., and preferably 5 to 10% b.w.,     emulsifiers     on condition that the numbers add to 100% b.w. The compositions are     pesticides concentrates to be diluted with water to give a aqueous     formulations for end-users comprising about 0.5 to about 5,     preferably about 0.5 to about 1% of the active matter represented by     the concentrate.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

A final embodiment of the present invention is related to the use of amides based on keto-carboxylic acids, in particular dialkylamides and more preferably the dimethylamide based on 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid) as solvents or dispersants for biocides.

EXAMPLES Examples 1 to 5

Several emulsifiable concentrates have been designed and prepared by mixing biocides, dimethylamides, co-solvents and emulsifiers. The concentrates were subsequently diluted at 5% in water. Characteristics of 5% b.w. emulsions in different water hardness and stored at 20° C. for 24 h were assessed. The stability of the emulsions was determined as a function of time. As far as layering is concerned (++) means “no layering” and (+) “about 1 ml layering”. For opacity (++) means an opaque white emulsion and (+) a slightly opalescent emulsion. The results are compiled in Table 1. The amounts reflect the composition of the concentrates.

TABLE 1 Stability of biocide compositions Composition [% b.w.] 1 2 3 4 5 Tebuconazole 25 25 − − − Oyfluorfen − − 20 23 Levulinic acid dimethylamide 35 35 32 45 45 Dibutyladipate − 25 22 2Ethylhexyl Lactate 35 35 33 − Saccharose ester + 10EO 10 − − 10 Agnique ® MBL 510 − 10 − −  8 Agnique ® MBL 520 − − − −  2 Agnique ® CSO 30 − −  7 − − Comperlan ® KD − −  3 − − Appearance Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Emulsion properties spontaneously ++ ++ + ++ ++ layering after 1 h ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ opacity after 1 h ++ ++ + + + layering after 2 h + + ++ ++ ++ opacity after 2 h ++ ++ + + + layering after 24 h + + + + +

The examples indicate that excellent emulsification behaviour is obtained as a result of optimized solvents mixture and emulsifier systems.

Example 6, Comparative Examples C1 and C2

Solubility of two fungicides, one herbicide and two insecticides in different dialkyl amides at 25° C. was tested. The results, including minimum target solubility for each biocide is presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Solubility of biocides [% b.w.] Tebu- Epoxi- Ox- Imid- Ex. Solvents canozole conazole fluoren Novaluron acloprid Minimum target 30 12.5 25 15 20 solubility 6 Levulinic acid 41 19   37 26 19 dimethylamide C1 C₈—C₁₀ fatty acid 38 9  31 32  4 dimethylamide C2 Lactic acid di- 35 15   23 22 12 methyl amide

Examples 7 and 8

Two weeds, Velvet leaf (Abutilion theophrasti=Bayer Code: ABUTH) and Hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata=Bayer Code=SEBEX) were treated with a suboptimum rate of 270 g a.e./ha glyphosate IPA salt, optionally in the presence of N,N-Dimethyl levulinic acid amide as an adjuvant (spray volume: 200 l/ha) with three replications over a period of 21 days. Assessments took place for SEBEX after 10 and for ABUTH 20 days after treatment. The efficacy of the biocide/adjuvant composition was determined against a control where the number of weeds in a similar untreated area was set to 0%. The results are compiled in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Weed control [%-rel.] Dose adjuvant Dose g a.i./ha SEBEX ABUTH Ex. [% b.w.] Adjuvant glyphosate Control Control 0 None None 0 0 C3 0 None 270 50 82 7 0.25 Levulinic 270 70 95 acid amide

The examples clearly indicate that the addition of the levulinic acid amide improves the weed control performance of glyphosate significantly. 

1. A biocide composition comprising: (a) one or more amides according to the general formula (I): R¹CO—NR²R³  (I)  in which R¹CO stands for R⁴(CH₂)_(n)CO(CH₂)_(m), R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R⁴ stands for hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by one or more functional groups, and m and n both represent independently zero or integers of 1 to 10, wherein n and m are not both zero, and (b) one or more biocides.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein one or more amides comprise dialkylamides based on 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid).
 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein component (a) comprises levulinic acid dimethylamide.
 5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein one or more biocides (component b) are selected from the group consisting of herbicides, fungicides insecticides and plant growth regulators.
 6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein one or more biocides are selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and its salts and glufosinate and its salts.
 7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises as component (c) one or more oil components or co-solvents.
 8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises as component (d) one or more emulsifiers.
 9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises: (a) 0.1% b.w. to 99% b.w. amides according to formula (I), (b) 1% b.w. to 99.1% b.w. biocides, (c) 0% b.w. to 50% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 0% b.w. to 15% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w.
 10. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the composition comprises 5% b.w. to 50% b.w component (b).
 11. A method for making biocide compositions comprising using amides according to the general formula (I): R¹CO—NR²R³  (I)  in which R¹CO stands for R⁴(CH₂)_(n)CO(CH₂)_(m), R² and R³ independently represent hydrogen or alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R⁴ stands for hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by one or more functional groups, and m and n both represent independently zero or integers of 1 to 10, wherein n and m are not both zero, as solvents or dispersants for biocides.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein one or more amides dialkylamides based on 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid).
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein component (a) comprises levulinic acid dimethylamide.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein one or more biocides are selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and its salts and glufosinate and its salts.
 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the biocide compositions comprise: (a) 0.1% b.w. to 99% b.w. amides according to formula (I), (b) 1% b.w. to 99.1% b.w. biocides, (c) 0% b.w. to 50% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 0% b.w. to 15% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the biocide compositions comprise: (a) 20% b.w. to 45% b.w. amides according to formula (I), (b) 15% b.w. to 40% b.w. biocides, (c) 10% b.w. to 25% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 5% b.w. to 10% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w.
 17. The composition according to claim 3, wherein one or more biocides (component b) are selected from the group consisting of herbicides, fungicides insecticides and plant growth regulators.
 18. The composition according to claim 3, wherein one or more biocides are selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and its salts and glufosinate and its salts.
 19. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the composition comprises: (a) 0.1% b.w. to 99% b.w. dialkylamides based on 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid) and other amides according to formula (I), (b) 1% b.w. to 99.1% b.w. biocides, (c) 0% b.w. to 50% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 0% b.w. to 15% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w.
 20. The composition according to claim 19, wherein the composition comprises: (a) 20% b.w. to 45% b.w. dialkylamides based on 4-oxopentanoic acid (levulinic acid) and other amides according to formula (I), (b) 15% b.w. to 40% b.w. biocides, (c) 10% b.w. to 25% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 5% b.w. to 10% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w.
 21. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the composition comprises: (a) 20% b.w. to 45% b.w. amides according to formula (I), (b) 15% b.w. to 40% b.w. biocides, (c) 10% b.w. to 25% b.w. oil components or co-solvents, (d) 5% b.w. to 10% b.w. emulsifiers, and (e) optionally water or one or more polyols, wherein components (a) to (e) add up to 100% b.w. 